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Jean Larremore will indeed lead trips to on her ranch on Tuesday, October 18 and Tuesday October 25.

This last week, I’ve been on the South Larremore Ranch, the Ritchie Ranch, and the Singleton Ranch. There’s lots of new agate visible on all three ranches. We’ve had lots of rain in the last few months, and that’s at least partly responsible for uncovering new pieces.

At the South Larremore Ranch, there were a few muddy spots in the creek bottom, but very few puddles (and all of them were small enough to really call puddles). The mud at the crossing was too deep and sloppy to attempt the crossing in a car, but we walked across it (after I slipped and fell on my butt, of course). By the time the day was over, Brian Larremore had used the tractor and made the crossing good enough that we would have been able to drive it. However, since then it has rained for two solid days here in Alpine, and I have no idea how much rain they got down there.

On the big Fall hunts schedule, I got two of the starting times wrong. They are corrected below:

November

Th

17

Stillwell Ranch

Start Time: 7 a.m.

December

S

24

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

Or, to put it another way, the starting times for all Fall field trips will be:

East Needle Peak and Stillwell Ranch: 7 a.m.

Singleton Ranch, and South Larremore Ranch: 8 a.m.

Ritchie Ranch: 9 a.m.

The Larremore Ranch and the South Larremore Ranch mentioned in the field trip list are the same place. But the South Larremore Ranch is not the same as the old Larremore Ranch that we hunted back in about 2006. The South Larremore Ranch is very productive with lots of unusual agates in addition to those similar to the Alpine agates and the agates from the Needle Peak area. If this is confusing, just remember that all the Larremore ranch field trips on the Fall schedule are to the same wonderful ranch.

I neglected to mention in the email that, if no one has signed up for a field trip a week before the date of the trip, the trip will be cancelled. I know this makes it difficult for people who make last-minute trips to the Big Bend, but in previous years I spent a lot of time preparing for field tips just in case someone wanted to attend who hadn’t signed up. My schedule this year is too tight to allow me to do that.

Thank you all for bearing with me. I’ve only been doing this for 15 years or so. I should know what to put in an email by now!

The big schedule below covers scheduled rockhunts for September through December, 2016.

September, 2016

F

16

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

S

17

South Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Tu

20

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

W

21

South Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

22

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

F

23

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

S

24

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Su

25

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

M

26

South Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

October, 2016

Th

6

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

S

15

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

Su

16

East Needle Peak

Start Time: 7 a.m.

M

17

Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Tu

18

Larremore Ranch with Jean Larremore

Start Time: 8 a.m.

W

19

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

20

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Tu

25

Larremore Ranch with Jean Larremore

Start Time: 8 a.m.

W

26

Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

27

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

F

28

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

S

29

East Needle Peak

Start Time: 7 a.m.

Su

30

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

M

31

Stillwell Ranch

Start Time: 7 a.m.

November, 2016

W

9

South Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

10

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

F

11

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

S

12

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Su

13

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

M

14

East Needle Peak

Start Time: 7 a.m.

Tu

15

Larremore Ranch with Jean Larremore

Start Time: 8 a.m.

W

16

S. Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

17

Stillwell Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Su

20

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

M

21

S. Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Tu

22

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

W

23

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

24

East Needle Peak

Start Time: 7 a.m.

December, 2016

Tu

6

Mule Deer Season: Special South Larremore Ranch hunt

Start Time: 8 a.m.

W

7

Mule Deer Season: Special South Larremore Ranch hunt

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

8

Mule Deer Season: Special South Larremore Ranch hunt

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Th

15

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

F

16

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

S

17

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Su

18

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

M

19

South Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Tu

20

Larremore Ranch with Jean Larremore

Start Time: 8 a.m.

W

21

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

Th

22

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

F

23

East Needle Peak

Start Time: 7 a.m.

S

24

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Su

25

South Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

M

26

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

Tu

27

Larremore Ranch with Jean Larremore

Start Time: 8 a.m.

W

28

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

Th

29

South Larremore Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

F

30

Ritchie Ranch

Start Time: 9 a.m.

S

31

Singleton Ranch

Start Time: 8 a.m.

The prices for the ranches are unchanged from last year: The Ritchie Ranch is $10 entrance fee per person and $1 per lb. for the agate you take; the South Larremore Ranch is $40 per person if I take you, and $50 per person if Jean or Brian Larremore take you; the Singleton Ranch is $50 per person, which gets you up to a 5-gallon bucket of agate (if you find more it’s $40 per bucket, charged in ¼ bucket increments), and East Needle Peak is $40 per person. On all of these ranches, kids under 12 hunt free, but their rocks count in the total you pay for. The Stillwell Ranch has no admission fee and charges 50 cents per pound for good rocks. The price for the Rollin’ Rock club membership, which is required for my hunts, is also unchanged at $10 per calendar year for a single membership and $16 per calendar year for a dual membership. And the price for my guide services is still the same: free, but you can give me a gratuity if you feel so inclined.

All trips begin in front of the office at the Antelope Lodge, 2310 W. Highway 90 in Alpine. However, if you’re staying someplace that is closer to the hunt site than Alpine is, let me know and I’ll try to make arrangements to meet you someplace along the route.

Wow! It’s been almost a month since the April rockhunts, and I’ve been practicing sleeping in late and being incommunicado . But now, in a small flurry of activity, I’m going to send out an email!

I had a great time leading all the spring rockhunts, and I think everyone that attended had a good time as well.

I found some incredible agate, especially at the Singleton Ranch and the South Larremore Ranch. I am very pleased with the variety and quality of agate found at the South Larremore Ranch, and just a little bit puzzled geologically about how it all got there. But the important thing is that it DID get there, and we can find it in reasonable sizes and quantities for cutting and specimens. And there’s still some of that ranch to be explored.

I saw lots of old friends and made some new ones. As usual, we had people fly and drive in from around the United States, including people from Florida, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Oregon, and of course all over Texas. Johnny French brought barbecue for the group and we had a fantastic dinner during the April hunts.

In general, the weather cooperated with us, especially in April. It had rained earlier on the Larremore Ranch, however, which left the usually-not-difficult creek crossing a muddy mess. So, twice, we got all hands on deck with shovels and picks, and fixed the crossing so that all the vehicles on the hunt could get across if they chose to. We also ganged up to pile rocks in holes and fix roads on the Singleton Ranch.

We also took several trips to the Stillwell Ranch. I was really happy with the agate I found, and the petrified wood was excellent. You can hunt the Stillwell Ranch on your own if the weather is cool and the roads are dry, but going on a trip with me means I can probably help you find a good spot to hunt and identify what you’ve found in the field, so you don’t pay for rocks you really don’t want. The fee is very reasonable at 50 cents per pound, and of course I don’t charge anything, so the only big expense is your gas. And the Stillwell Store has ice cream bars and cold drinks for an after-rockhunt treat.

I’ve also relearned some lessons that I used to know. I need to take a day off once a week, so that I can catch up on sleep and laundry. I need to be more clear in my instructions, and I need to have samples and maps for every ranch.

I’m closing up for the summer, and probably won’t have any more field trips til the beginning of October. I’d appreciate input from y’all about the schedule, since I tried to cluster more rockhunts together in the middle of the month rather than running several weekends a month like I had last year. Please let me know whether that worked better for you or not, and how you think I can improve the schedules in the future.

I hope to have time to work on the museum this summer, and on the set of photos I’m displaying in my slide show there. If anyone has some photos of the hunt, or of the material you’ve found, whether rough or processed, and wouldn’t mind having me use them in my slide show, please email them to me. I’ll add your name and a copyright line for you, and they won’t be used for anything except the slide show in my museum.

Lastly, I’ve been trying to contact Paul Bowman, who came out on the April field trips for the first time, and his email address is rejecting new messages. If anyone knows him, please tell him to email me! Thanks!

Hi! Below is the complete April rockhunt schedule, including meeting times and costs. All field trips start at the Antelope Lodge, 2310 W. Highway 90, Alpine. Rollin’ Rock Club membership is required to attend the hunts. Cost is $10 single/$16 dual membership for the rest of 2016.

It also has been brought to my attention that I forgot to update my calendar when I made changes to the schedule. So what’s on my website doesn’t match what’s here. This email is the correct schedule. I hope to have the time to fix the website very soon.

I went back to the South Larremore Ranch today and did more scouting. There’s lots of neat agate there, scattered over an area that’s at least a square mile in size. Some of the pieces are unlike anything I’ve seen before.

All rockhunts start at the Antelope Lodge 2310 W. Highway 90, Alpine. To reserve a spot, you can email me at agatehunter@sbcglobal.net, or call me at (432) 386-3431.

Please let me know as soon as you decide that you are coming on a particular rockhunt or set of rockhunts. Even if you are tentatively planning on coming, let me know. If I don’t have anyone signed up for a rockhunt a week before the hunt is to occur, I will cancel the hunt. I may then make other plans for that day and not be available if someone wants me to “un-cancel” the hunt at the last minute.

Also, remember that Rollin’ Rock Club membership is required for all of my rockhunts, and it costs $10 single/$16 dual. If you haven’t joined yet this year, your dues will pay for the rest of 2015 and for the 2016 calendar year.
Regards,

Hi! The Big Bend Agate Roundup is almost here! Below is the most current sign-up sheet for the Walker Ranch and the other ranches included in the October Big Bend Agate Roundup. Please let me know if the information about you is not correct.

Last week there was LOTS of rain in the Big Bend. I know for sure that the Ritchie, Walker, Larremore and Singleton Ranches all got very wet. I’m not sure about Needle Peak, but we’ll see about that when we get there. I know they’ve had rain since our last hunt there, so there should be plenty of great agate on the surface for us to find.

AND there’s still time to sign up for the rockhunts… right up to and including the day of the hunt in most cases! There’s also still room at the Lodge for those of you who would like to stay with us in Alpine. And free dry camping at the Walker Ranch if you’re out there to rockhunt!

Remember that the Singleton Ranch needs to be paid in cash, but the Walker Ranch, Ritchie Ranch, South Larremore Ranch and East Needle Peak will accept cash or check. And the Rollin’ Rock club will accept cash or check if you’re not a member, as well.

We’ll be hosting a potluck/sandwich supper on Sunday night, October 25th at somewhere around 6:30 p.m. at the Antelope Lodge in Alpine. Bring your best rocks to show off!

If the information below doesn’t show up well on your email browser, I’ll put it on my website in a day or two so you can get a better view!

This is the second in a set of press releases I wrote to send to local papers in conjunction with the story on me that was published in the September 2015 Rock & Gem Magazine.

If you go rockhunting with Teri Smith, a rockhunt is a day when you go to a private ranch, accompanied by Teri, to find agate and other collectible rocks to take home with you.

Before you begin your rockhunt, you’ll want to have your vehicle ready for rough roads, dress for a desert adventure, and assemble lunch, drinking water, and simple rockhunting equipment for your group. While you can get to some of the collecting areas in a passenger car, high clearance is needed for most sites, and a 4wd vehicle is ideal.

First thing in the morning, you will meet with Teri and the other rockhunters who are going on the trip with you in the lobby of the Antelope Lodge, 2310 W. Highway 90, Alpine. Teri will have
you fill out some paperwork and collect the landowner’s fee for the rockhunt. She will then tell you the rules for the ranch you’ll be going to, tell you about what types of collectible rocks can be found there, and perhaps take you to her museum to show her examples of what she has found on that ranch on past rockhunts.

You’ll also join the Rollin’ Rock Club, a national group of rockhounds that sponsor Teri’s field trips. The Rollin’ Rock Club is a member of the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies, and participants in Teri’s rockhunts follow the AFMS rockhunting guidelines.

Teri will explain the route you’ll all take to get to the ranch, and you’ll follow Teri in your own vehicle to get there. Driving times vary from 10 minutes to more than two hours.

Once you arrive at the collecting site, Teri will give you some instructions, advise you of hazards in the area, and show you samples of the agate and other collectible rocks found there. You’ll make arrangements to get back together at some time later in the day, and head off in on your own to hunt for the agate.

If you’re new to agate hunting, you can remain with Teri after the others have dispersed, and she’ll give you hints on what to look for in order to find agate among the other rocks on the ground. In almost all cases, agate will be on the ground or partly covered, and digging is generally not required. Teri will make arrangements to meet with you again in a short time to critique what you’ve found. Then you’ll be off collecting on your own, and meet back with the others at the end of the day.

At the end of the collecting day, you’ll all meet back at the vehicles and compare finds for a while, then Teri will lead the group back out to the paved road. From there, you can follow her back to Alpine, stop along the way to photograph the sunset, or head to another one of the nearby towns for dinner.

This is the third in a series of press releases I wrote to send to local papers along with the September 2015 Rock & Gem magazine. This information has been published in other blog posts here, but I’ve included it again because it was part of the press kit.

The Big Bend Agate Roundup is a semi-annual event which brings rockhounds from all over the country for two weeks of rockhunting on local ranches. These rockhunts are led by local rockhunting guide Teri Smith, and allow participants the chance to find many varieties of agate that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

The October event this year consists of 15 straight days of rockhunts held on five ranches in Brewster and Presidio counties. All of the rockhunts begin in Alpine, in the lobby of the Antelope Lodge, where participants pay their fees and sign liability waivers before they caravan to the selected ranch.

The terrain on the ranches varies from almost flat to quite mountainous, providing locations perfect for people of different fitness levels. The Ritchie Ranch, which is close to Alpine, has rolling hills, and you can drive right to the locations where the agate can be found. The South Larremore Ranch is also quite flat, but more walking is required. For both the Walker and Singleton Ranches, there are locations where you can park right by the agate beds, as well as more remote agate locations that require walking and some hill climbing. At East Needle Peak, you need to be prepared to walk and climb to get to the locations where you can find agate and fossils.

The last Agate Roundup, held in April, 2015, brought over 60 rockhounds to the Big Bend from all parts of Texas and other states as far away as Oregon, Virginia, and Indiana. The schedule for this fall’s event is posted on the website www.terismithrockhunts.com and listed here: